Drag-line excavator.



H. B. SAUERMAN.

DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. 1915.

Patented May 14, 1918.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNEK! U TED STATEsrATENT onmonj HENRY EB. SAUERMAN, or cIIIcAGo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JESSE A. Y I 1 SHEARER, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DRAG-LINE nxc vA'ron.

the "excavator bucket upon the traction cable that forward movement of a drag line will operate to transport the bucket either as a digger or when loaded, and, at a desired point, will operate to dump the load from thebucket in such manner as to at all'jtimes be under control of the operator.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, with the parts in load-transporting condition; Fig. 2 a similar view showing the parts in completely dumped position; Fig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a slight modification; Fig. -la view similar to Fig. 2, showing the modification indicated by Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 a diagram showing the supporting mast and associated parts.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a slack line track cable supported in an inclined condition, theupper end being supported by a tackle l1 and mast 12, the tackle 11 comprising a cable 13 connected to a winding drum 14 in such manner that the track cable 10 may be tightened and slackened in a common manner. Mounted upon cable 10 is a bucket carriage 15 preferably provided with wheels 16 to permit the easy traverse of the track cable. In the form shown in Figs. 1

and 2, the bucket 17 is supported by a forward cable 18 and a rear cable 19, which serves as a dumping line. Cable 18 is attached at 20 to the forward end of the bucket and passed from thence upwardly over a support of idler 21 upon the carriage and from thence forwardly to a bridle eye 22. Upon this cable 18 at a suitable point is a button 23 which normally engages the carriage 15 to limit the downward movement of the rear end of the cable 18 and consequently limit the downward movement of the forward end of the bucket. Cable 19 is attached at 24 to the rear end of bucket 17 and passed from thence over a support or pulley 25 car- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'May. 14, 1918.

3 Application filed. July as, 1915. 'Seri'a1No; 41,840.

ried byithe carriage l5 and from thence Q forwardly to a pulley 26 carried by a pull block 27 attached to the drag line 28 From pulley 26 the cable 19 is carried upwardly to a block 29 slidably mounted upon the track cable 10, said'block being preferably provided with pulleys 30, 30 between which the track cable 10 passes. Mounted upon the'cable 19 is a button 31 so placed upon the cable as to normally engage carriage 15 and support the rear end of the bucket 17 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Extend-' 1ng downwardlv and rearwardly from eye 22 to'the forward lower corner of bucketil7 is a bridle 32. It willibeseen that, as the bucket is entirely supported by the two cables 18 and 19, it is essential that some means -*such as the buttons 23 and 31 be provided to limit the possible downward movement of the rear ends of these two cables, but in Figs. 3 and 4,. I show an arrangement by which button 23 is eliminated.

Returning to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that when the drag line 28 is released, the entire apparatus will slide downwardly upon the track cable and when the track cable 10 is slackened and a forward pull exerted upon the drag line, the bucket 17 will be dragged along the ground and operate to excavate a desired load, the necessary force being applied directly from the drag line 28, block 27, a short cable 18 (which may be integral with cable 18 if desired) and a bridle 32. When the desired load has been obtained, the track cable 10 will be tightened while forward pull on the drag line is continued and the loaded bucket will be transported along the track cable. At any desired point on the track cable a stop button 33 is mounted so as to interfere with the further forward movement of the block 29, whereupon a continued forward pull upon the drag line will serve to advance the cable 19 at double the speed of advancement of the carriage 15 so that the bucket will be carried through a movement of controlled dump to the position shown in Fig. 2.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the cable 18 is eliminated and instead a short cable 41 of fixed length extends from the forward end of the bucket 17 to the forward part of carriage 15. A cable 42 is then attaohed at its rear end tothe carriage and passes from thence to the eye 22 and to the line, a cable. connection between said drag line and the forward end of the bucket, a second cable connection between said drag line and the forward end of the bucket, said second connection passing over a support on the, carrier and having a button engaging the carrier to limit rearward movement ofsaid last-mfintioned cable, a block slidabl-y mounted upon the track cable, a dumping line connected to the bucket, passing from thence upwardly over a support on the carrier and thence forwardly to and around a support on the drag line and from thence. upwardly to the block slidlably mountedupon the track cable, the said support and a button mounted upon the dumping line and engaging the carrier to limit rearward movement of said dumping line.

2. In a dredging apparatus, the combination with a track member and means for slacking and tightening the same, of a car rier slidably mounted on said track, a drag line, a cable connection between said drag line and the forward end of the bucket, a second cable connection between said drag line and the forward end of the bucket, said second connection passing over a support on the carrier and having a button engaging the carrier to limit rearward movement, of"

said last-mentioned cable the said support and a dumping line connected to, the bucket passing from thence upwardly over a sup,

port on the carrier and thence forwardly to, and: around a suppor on t e: rag ine. and;

from thence forwardly to a blockslidably mounted upon the track and cable, and the said last mentioned supports.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set.

HENR B- SAU RMAN,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

